Communication of Control Information Using Alert Flag and Version Number

A method for operating a base station serving a network, the method comprising:

• transmitting a synchronization channel;
• broadcasting uplink ranging information;
• detecting an event indicating that a first mobile station is initiating an uplink ranging procedure based on the uplink ranging information;
• and
• in response to detecting the event, starting to broadcast essential physical layer configuration information,
• wherein the essential physical layer configuration information is usable by mobile stations in range of the base station to facilitate communications with the base station, wherein the broadcasting of the essential physical layer configuration information is event triggered.

A non-transitory memory medium storing program instructions that, when executed by a processor of a base station, cause the base station to:

• transmit a synchronization channel;
• broadcast uplink ranging information;
• detect an event indicating that a first mobile station is initiating an uplink ranging procedure based on the uplink ranging information;
• and
• in response to detecting the event, start broadcasting essential physical layer configuration information,
• wherein the essential physical layer configuration information is usable by mobile stations in range of the base station to facilitate communications with the base station, wherein the broadcasting of the essential physical layer configuration information is event triggered.